2013年2月27日 星期三

陳儀Chen Yi, sentenced to death on May 19, 1950 and executed a month later on June 18 at 馬場町 in Taipei, was buried in a secluded location in 五股鄉, Taipei County. The dome-shaped tomb was in the classical Chinese style and its location became known only after the Martial Law period ended in 1987. In the past few decades, family members of the 228 victims had resorted to desecrating the grave site in revenge, much to the displeasure of Chen's family and his still loyal old subordinates.

On the eve of the 228 anniversary, the tomb is found to have been opened, Chen's remains removed, and the tomb re-sealed. The tombstone is also missing. The speculation is that Chen has been re-interred elsewhere, most likely in mainland China.

[Above: The headstone before disappearance, the inscription reads "陳公退素之墓" and below: the now resealed tomb]

Chen Yi's short rule of Taiwan was terminated soon after the 228 Incident of 1947. The death sentence was based on his failed attempt to convince KMT General 湯恩伯 to defect to the CCP, not because of the mishandling of the 228. This was perhaps a miscalculation of the central gov't at that time, tantamount to justice denied for a generation of Taiwanese whose psyche will remain forever scarred. As a consequence, politics in Taiwan remains deeply and gratuitously divided to this day despite the compensation paid and the annual presidential apologies.